Rights Forum cries foul over toilets

THE Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum has cried foul over the privatisation of public toilets at government’s Makombe Building in Harare.

The organisation yesterday said it had petitioned Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo to reverse the decision saying it was inhumane for government to demand five rand from each person who entered the facility.

In a statement, Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO senior projects lawyer Tafadzwa Christmas said the move was a gross violation of people’s rights.

Taken From Newsday

“The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum is disturbed by the requirements to pay for use of toilets at government buildings, including those that provide essential services like the Registrar General’s office,” Christmas said.

“We are concerned by the fact that members of the public are being made to pay five rands or 50 cents per person per walk in to utilise the public toilets at Makombe complex, which is a violation of people’s rights.”

In its petition dated April 1 2015, the human rights group said: “We find this very disturbing in light of the fact that Makombe Government Complex houses a number of government departments which provide vital services to the public such as the Ministry of Labour, Lands, Registrar-General’s Office and other government departments.

“In this regard, it is untenable for citizens to be charged for use of the public toilets at this busy complex. It is tantamount to dereliction of government’s duty to care for its citizens. This is particularly so because access to basic sanitary facilities such as toilets is fundamental for the realisation and furtherance of the right to health care enshrined in our constitution.”